Foam skimmer

ABSTRACT

A TOY FOR USE UPON THE SURFACE OF WATER, THE TOY COMPRISING A CATAMARAN COMPRISED OF TWO SPACED APART PONTOONS WITH A PLATFORM THEREBETWEEN, THE PLATFORM SUPPORTING A HORIZONTAL TUBE TO ONE END OF WHICH A NOZZLE OF AN INFLATED RUBBER BALLOON IS ATTACHED, THE OPPOSITE END OF THE TUBE BEING DIRECTED TOWARD A CONICAL VENTURI, THE DISCHARGED AIR FROM THE BALLOON PASSING THROUGH THE TUBE AND VENTURI SO TO CAUSE THE TOY TO BE PROPELLED FORWARDLY ACROS THE WATER.

R. H. SCOTT FOAM SKIMMER oct. 19, 1971 Filed 001'.. 17, 1969 United States Patent Oihce 3,613,293 FOAM SKIMMER Richard H. Scott, S N. Preston St., Centerhurg, Ohio 43011 Filed Oct. 17, 1969, Ser. No. 867,129 Int. Cl. A63h 29/16 U.S. Cl. 46-44 1 Claim ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A toy for use upon the surface of water, the toy comprising a catamaran comprised of two spaced apart pontoons with a platform therebetween, the platform supporting a horizontal tube to one end of which a nozzle of an inflated rubber balloon is attached, the opposite end of the tube being directed toward a conical venturi, the `discharged air from the balloon passing through the tube and -venturi so to cause the toy to be propelled forwardly across the water.

This invention relates generally to toys. More specilically the present invention relates to aquatic toys.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a foam skimmer toy for amusing children when playing in the water, the toy comprising a catamaran that iS self propelled by means of compressed air being discharged out of an inflated balloon, the discharged air providing a propelling force.

Another object of the persent invention is to provide a foam skimmer toy vwherein the discharged air from the balloon may be discharged under water in a rearward direction so as to propel the skimmer forwardly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a foam skimmer toy wherein alternately the discharged gas or air from the balloon is directed into a conically conigurated venturi so as to develop compression in the narrow neck thereof and thrust the skimmer forwardly.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a foam skimmer toy wherein alternately the craft may carry a small electric motor driven by a pen cell battery for driving the motor, the motor driving a propeller which forces air into a conical venturi to develop compression and force the craft forwardly, this form of the toy being adaptable to older children having an appreciation for electrically driven mechanisms.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a foam skimmer toy which is simple in design, and inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and eilicient in operation.

These and other objects will become readily evident upon a study of the following specification and accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. l.

FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view similar to FIG. 2 and showing a modied design of the present invention, and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of still another modified form of the present invention driven by an electric motor.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral represents a foam skimmer toy according to the present invention wherein there is a catamaran 11 comprised of a pair of longitudinally extending, parallel spaced apart pontoons 12 which may be comprised of solid material such as Styrofoam or which may comprise hollow cylindrical balloons made of thin rubber skins Patented Oct. 19, 1971 which hermetically seal an air chamber. Between the pontoons 12 there is attached a platform 13 which as shown in FIG. l of the drawing has an opening 14 near one end thereof for securement of a pull string 15 so that it may be towed by a child.

A vertically extending tube 16 extends through the platform 13, the tube being integral with the platform. Such platform and tube may be made of molded plastic for minimum production expense, or may be otherwise formed. The lower end of the tube is turned into a horizontal direction so to form a horizontally extending terminal end 17. The upper end of the tube 16 extends above the platform 13 as shown at 13, the tube end 18 having an air inated balloon 19 fitted thereupon by means of the balloon nozzle 20 fitted snugly thereacross.

In operative use, when the child desires the foam skimmer lto travel under its own power, the balloon 19 is inflated after which it is secured upon the upper end of the tube 16. The outwardly rushing air from the balloon and into the tube causes the foam skimmer to travel in the direction as indicated by arrow 21 when the craft is placed upon the surface of the water 22 wherein the rearwardly rushing air as indicated by the arrow 23 into the water causes the craft to travel.

Thus there is provided an interesting toy for small children and which will keep the children occupied and at the same time develop the lungs by frequently requiring to replenish the balloon with a fresh supply of air, thus necessitating the children to blow the same up before attaching it again upon the tubes 16 so as to repeat the propelling operation.

In FIG. 3 of the drawing, a modiiied design of the foam skimmer is shown wherein there is a craft 24 including the spaced apart pontoons 25 having a platform 26 therebetween, the platform supporting thereupon, and formed integral therewith a stantion 27 supporting a horizontally extending tube 28 one end of which is adaptable for receiving the nozzle 20 of the balloon 19. The opposite end of the tube 28 is in axial alignment with a conically configurated venturi 29 having a. wide mouth thereof adjacent the end of the tube 28. The opposite end of the venturi comprises a relatively small narrow opening through which the air must be compressed to squeeze through thus causing the compressed air to force the craft forwardly due to the principles of jet action. The conically congurated venturi 29 is supported upon a ange 30 formed upon the platform 26. In operative use, as the air 30 rushing rearwardly, the craft moves forwardly as indicated by the arrow 31.

In FIG. 4 of the drawing, still another modified form of jet skimmer is shown wherein there is a craft 32, and which instead of employing the inflatable balloon 19 is provided with a small electric motor 33 mounted on platform 34 supported between elongated pontoons 3S, the motor being powered by a pen cell battery 36 secured removably under spring clip 37 for the purpose of replacement after the battery is used up, and the motor driving a motor shaft 38 on which there is mounted a propeller 39. The propeller 39 is positioned adjacent a wide mouth end of a conically conigurated venturi 40, the opposite end of the conically coniigurated venturi having a relatively small opening t-hrough which compressed air is forced so to form a jet action for propelling the craft forwardly into the direction indicated by the arrow 41.

Thus there have been provided various forms of a novel aquatic toy. While generally indicated as a toy, it is evident that the principles of the present invention may be employed for construction of a large float skimmer which would be adaptable for practical purposes in transporting cargo and the like.

What I now claim is:

1. In a float skimmer for movement on a fluid surface,

the combination of a catamaran and a power source carried by said catamaran, said catamaran comprising a pair of spaced apart, parallel, longitudinally extending pontoons, said pontoons being made of buoyant material, a platform supported between said pontoons, and opening near one end of said platform for securement of a pull String, and said platform having said power source secured thereupon for propelling said foam skimmer, said platform carrying a horizontally extending tube thereupon, one end of said tube removably having a nozzle of a rubber balloon tted therearound, the opposite end of said tube being in spaced apart axial alignment with a conical venturi to direct air from said balloon through said venturi toward a narrow opening at a far end thereof located above the uid surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1917 Brown 46-95 l1/1928 Hall 46-93 2/1948 Annis 46-44 4/1951 Costea 46--95 1/1953 Belding 46-95 2/1956 Gates 46-95 2/1957 Yamauchi 46-206 4/1963 White 46-78 6/1963 Robbins et al. 46--206 ll/l966 Wechsler 46-95 FOREIGN PATENTS 1954 Italy,

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner A. HEINZ, Assistant Examiner 

